No Fault Divorce under 3301 (d) of the Divorce Code LIVING SEPARATE AND APART Section 1 - Complaint Preparation Complete the following forms in order and print the number of copies indicated on each form: Form 3 Notice to Defend and Claim Rights Form 4 Complaint Form 10 Affidavit Under 3301(d) Form 12 Counter Affidavit Under 3301(d) Sign and date forms 4 and 10 from step 1. Do not sign form 12 IMPORTANT INFORMATION NEEDED to complete paragraph 3(b)(1) of Form 8 Praecipe to Transmit Record Date you signed form 10 Step 3 Packet assembly DO NOT add or attach any other documents, photos, photocopies, etc. to any of the form packets. Doing so may cause your Divorce to be denied. Assemble into three (3) Complaint packets One packet for the Clerk of Judicial Records containing the following completed forms: One packet for your records containing the following completed forms: One packet to be served to the defendant containing the following completed forms: Rev. 12/17 Divorce 3301(d) 1
Section 2-Filing the Complaint Step 1 File Take the following items to the Clerk of Judicial Records located in room 122 of Lehigh County Courthouse: All three (3) completed Complaint packets from Section 1-Form Preparation step 3 Cash, Money order or Credit/Debit Card to cover divorce filling fees. No personal checks will be accepted. Note when using a Credit/Debit Card a service fee will be added. At the Clerk of Judicial Records office, give all three packets to the Clerk. The original will be kept by the Clerk Two copies will be returned to you with a date stamp on the top Keep one for your own records Serve one on the Defendant (see below) IMPORTANT INFORMATION NEEDED to complete paragraph 3(b)(2) of Form 8 Praecipe to Transmit Record Date Complaint Packet (form 3, 4, 10 and 12) was filed and stamped Section 3-Serving the Defendant by Certified mail Time deadline of Service The Plaintiff must serve the Defendant with the Complaint (form 4), the Notice to Defend (form 3), the Affidavit under 3301(d) (form 10) and a blank copy of the Counter Affidavit Under 3301(d) (form 12) within 30 days of the date that Forms 3, 4, 10 and 12 were filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records or within 90 days if the Defendant does not live in the state of Pennsylvania. Manner of Service To use these forms, the manner of service must be Certified mail, return receipt requested, restricted delivery. (Note: There are other methods of service.) Step 1 Preparing Complaint packet for Service Address an envelope to the defendant Put the following in the envelope addressed to the defendant Step 2 Going to the Post Office Take this Checklist with you Take addressed envelope containing Complaint packet Take money for postage Rev. 12/17 Divorce 3301(d) 2
Step 3 Completing Domestic Return Receipt (green post card Form 3811) At the post office obtain Domestic Return Receipt (green post card Form 3811) Complete Reverse side of the Domestic Return Receipt (green post card Form 3811) so it will be returned to you as proof of service. Section 1 Article Addressed to: Write defendant s Name and Address Section 2 Article Number: Write Certified Mail Receipt Number Section 3 Service Type: Check Certified Mail check box Section 4 Restricted Delivery?: Check box for Yes Pay postage and Mail Wait for green post card form 3811 to be returned to you in the mail *IMPORTANT INFORMATION NEEDED to complete paragraphs 2 and 3(b)3 of Form 8 Praecipe to Transmit Record and Form 5D Affidavit of Service Service of the Complaint and Notice to Defend: Date of Service This is the date the defendant signed green post card Manner of Service: If you followed Section 3, the Manner of Service is Certified mail, return receipt requested, restricted delivery. The Defendant must sign the Domestic Return Receipt (green post card Form 3811). No other person may sign the post card. If you are unsuccessful or unable to serve the Defendant, then STOP and consult an attorney. Section 4- Proof of Service Once you receive the Domestic Return Receipt (green post card Form 3811) signed by the defendant from serving the Defendant by certified mail do the following: Complete the following forms and print the number of copies indicated on each form Form 5D Affidavit of Service of Complaint Form Exhibit A Sign and date all copies of the completed forms from Step 1 that require your signature Rev. 12/17 Divorce 3301(d) 3
Step 3 Attach Attach the Domestic Return Receipt (green post card Form 3811) signature side up to Form Exhibit A. Step 4 Photocopy Make a photocopy of Form Exhibit A that has the green post card attached. Make sure you can see the signature and date. Step 5 Packet assembly Assemble into two (2) Proof of Service packets Step 6 File One packet for the Clerk of Judicial Records containing the following completed documents Form 5D Affidavit of Service of Complaint Form Exhibit A with attached Domestic Return Receipt (green post card Form 3811) One packet for your records containing the following completed documents Form 5D Affidavit of Service of Complaint Photocopied Form Exhibit A File now by taking both Proof of Service packets assembled in step 5 to the Clerk of Judicial Records located in room 122 of Lehigh County Courthouse: Give both Proof of Service packets to the Clerk. The original will be kept by the Clerk; the copy will be returned to you for your own records Section 5 Allow 20 days for Defendant s response If you were able to complete Section 4-Proof of Service, you now have filed the proof that you served the Complaint (Form 4), Notice to Defend (Form 3),Affidavit Under 3301(d) (Form 10) and a blank copy of Counter Affidavit Under 3301(d) (Form 12) on the defendant. You must wait 20 days from the date of service to allow the defendant to respond before proceeding to the next section. Date of service is the date the defendant signed the green post card form 3811. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FIRST WAITING PERIOD Calculate 20 days from date of Service DO NOT continue to next section until after this 20 day waiting period. If the defendant does respond by filing documents, then STOP and consult an attorney. Rev. 12/17 Divorce 3301(d) 4
Section 6 Notice of Intention to Request Divorce Decree NOTICE: Before starting this section you must be prepared to complete these forms and mail them the same day. Complete the following forms and print the number of copies indicated on the form Form 14 Notice of Intention and Blank Copy Cover Letter Form 12 Counter Affidavit Under 3301(d) Form 11 Notice of Intention to Request Divorce Decree Note: Pay close attention to the SECOND 20 day Calculated Date on Form 11 Sign and date forms 11 and 14 of the completed forms. Do not sign form 12 Step 3 Packet assembly Assemble into three (3) packets. One packet to be mailed to the defendant containing the following completed forms: Form 14 Notice of Intention and Blank Copy Cover Letter Form 11 Notice of Intention to Request Divorce Decree One packet for the Clerk of Judicial Records containing the following completed forms: Form 14 Notice of Intention and Blank Copy Cover Letter Form 11 Notice of Intention to Request Divorce Decree One packet for your records containing the following completed documents: Form 14 Notice of Intention and Blank Copy Cover Letter Form 11 Notice of Intention to Request Divorce Decree Step 4 Mailing Defendant s packet Mail Defendant s packet to Defendant by regular first class mail today. Save other two packets for Section 8 Finalization IMPORTANT INFORMATION to complete paragraphs 5(b) of Form 8 Praecipe to Transmit Record Date you completed forms 11, 12 and 14 Date you mailed forms 11, 12 and 14 Second 20 day Calculated Date you put on Form 11 Manner of Service: If you followed these instructions the Manner of Service is First Class Mail Rev. 12/17 Divorce 3301(d) 5
Section 7 Certification of Service for Notice of Intention and Blank Counter Affidavit Step 1 Certification of Service Make sure you have mailed the Defendant s packet by First Class Mail Complete the following form and print the number of copies indicated on the form Form 13 Certification of Service Sign and date all copies of form 13 Step 3 Attached to Packet Attached one (1) copy to the saved packet from Section 6 for Clerk of Judicial Records. Hold onto this packet until Section 8 Finalization Attached one (1) copy to the saved packet from Section 6 that is for your records. Hold onto this packet until Section 8 Finalization Step 4 Allow 20 days for Defendant s response You must wait 20 days from the date you mailed the packet from Section 6 Step 4 which allows Defendant to respond before proceeding to the next section. IMPORTANT INFORMATION See SECOND 20 day calculated date above for date you can continue to Section 8. DO NOT continue to Section 8 until after this SECOND 20 day waiting period. If the defendant does respond by filing documents, then STOP and consult an attorney. Section 8 Finalization Complete the following forms in order and print copies as indicated on each form. Form 8 Praecipe to Transmit Record Form 9 Decree Sign and date all copies of the completed forms from Step 1 that require your signature. Step 3 Packet assembly Assemble into two (2) packets. One packet for the Clerk of Judicial Records containing the following completed documents: Form 8 Praecipe to Transmit Record Form 9 Decree Form 11 Notice of Intention to Request Divorce Decree from section 6 from section 6 Form 13 Certification of Service from section 7 Form 14 Notice of Intention and Blank Copy Cover Letter from section 6 Rev. 12/17 Divorce 3301(d) 6
Step 4 File One packet for your records containing the following completed documents: Form 8 Praecipe to Transmit Record Form 9 Decree Form 11 Notice of Intention to Request Divorce Decree from section 6 from section 6 Form 13 Certification of Service from section 7 Form 14 Notice of Intention and Blank Copy Cover Letter from section 6 Take the following items to the Clerk of Judicial Records located in room 122 of Lehigh County Courthouse: Step 5 Both completed packets from step 3 Cash or Money Order to cover Praecipe to Transmit record fees. No personal checks or Credit/Debit Cards will be accepted. If all the required forms are filled out correctly, filed in the correct time line and the filing is done in accordance with the Rules of Court, the Decree is entered and mailed to you. Divorce Granted on Rev. 12/17 Divorce 3301(d) 7